Traditionalists need not apply for NSW Open

BY Liz White | Von Nida Tour | 2007 New South Wales Open | Preview | 06 Nov 2007

It’s the big experiment designed to bring some excitement and sponsorship dollars back into the game but will this week’s NSW Open at The Vintage be a success?

While the pro-am format would probably make the great Von Nida turn in his grave, the reality is something drastic was needed to revitalise what was once one of Australia’s most prestigious titles.

It’s hard to imagine the likes of previous winners, Norman Von Nida, Greg Norman, Kel Nagle and Peter Thomson, being happy to play alongside an amateur on the last two days of a tournament but that’s what the competitors will be doing at this year’s open.

While the pro-am has been a hit with the punters, with around 60 people happy to pay $1250 for the privilege, it has certainly raised eyebrows among the traditionalists.

“My first reaction was ‘that may not work,’” said NSW Open tournament director Greg Mills.

“I know there is a certain section of the players who wouldn’t see it as their preferred option.”

But the reality is that without the involvement of the Vintage, the NSW Open would most probably not have been held. Mills says the relationship with the previous hosts of the Open, Moore Park, ended amicably just two months ago.

“It has been a frantic two months to try and stage this event, but it is fair to say that had the deal with the Vintage not come through, I doubt we would have been staging a NSW Open this year,” he said.

Two months is not much time to generate public interest and sponsorship but the event has been boosted tremendously with the inclusion of local star Nick Flanagan. The Belmont boy is playing to honour the memory of NSWGA Golf Director, Alex Johnston, who passed away suddenly in September.

“Had it not been for him contacting me and our relationship, the event may not have been on my radar,” he said.

The pro am format does not trouble Flanagan.

“The Von Nida tour needs support of the golfers, who have been fortunate enough to succeed overseas and although with the scheduling it is not always possible to make yourself available when the opportunity presents itself, I think it is our responsibility to do what we can to make sure we are there.”

The tournament starts tomorrow and boasts several other well known players. US PGA Tour player Jarrod Lyle is coming home and he will be joined by the talented James Nitties and current NSW PGA champion Scott Draper.

A lot is riding on the success of this year’s tournament. If the event works the Vintage have a five-year option to exercise.

The resident director of golf at the Vintage, Richard Mercer says while the pro-am format is contentious there is a concerted effort to restore some prestige to the e vent.

“Kel Nagle will be our patron, and we are determined to make this Open what it used to be,” he said.

“We want to reinstate as a key event on the Australian playing calendar.”

So too does it’s patron, Kel Nagle, but he acknowledges the problems inherent in attracting our top line players.

“It’s a shame because we have 24 players on the regular tour and a group on the Nationwide Tour and then to make it more difficult for us when our tournaments are on at the end of the year all those people who go away they’re looking for a bit of a holiday, so it is a bit difficult.”

This week’s players will be competing for a prize purse of $105,000, with the winner taking around $20,000. While it’s not much in today’s world of sporting megamillions, Greg Mills is hopeful players will be vying for a bigger reward in the future.

“We are just going to suck it up this year and make decisions about the success of this year’s tournament moving forward,” he said.

And for those who may not agree with the brave new face of the Open, you could always drown your sorrows at either of the neighbouring cellar doors. The players though had better not be so hasty – the vineyards are out of bounds.